Alexander's God
Who is Prince Alexander's true love, his dream, his life, his God? It is a Persian eunuch and his name is Bagoas. Alexander swore that he would conquer the world in order to win the beautiful eunuch.
I am proud to announce this story is based on historical facts, at least as much facts as other Bagoas stories. I also performed a lot of research, well, the same kind of research that other Bagoas authors did before they post their stories, as well.
Whether you like Bagoas or not, I hope you enjoy my story!
Chapter One – The New Wonder of Babylon
Prince Alexander had everything. At seventeen years old, he was the heir apparent to the Macedonian Kingdom, and he was tutored by the great Aristotle, and acted as regent when his father was away. He colonized the Thracian tribe, and found a colony called Alexandropolis, and all these accomplishments at the age of 16! Few doubted that one day he would surpass his great ancestor, Achilles.
On a warm spring day Alexander received summon from his father to attend one of the court banquets that night. He signed to himself, knowing exactly what those indulgent banquets would go, and he didn't like that one bit. But as the prince he had no choice but to attend.
One his way to the training field, he met his friend Ptolemy, which seemed to be in a real hurry.
'Where are you going?' Alexander asked.
'On my way to see Thais', answered Ptolemy, 'No time for words. See you at banquet. Bye.'
Alexander fondly shook his head. This was something he couldn't get. All his friends, Ptolemy, Perdiccas, Leonnatus, and others, seemed to fell in love recently. They were forever talking about the beautiful boys and girls, and how much they loved them. Their eyes sparkled when they talked about their beloved ones, which was a rare scene for Macedonian warriors.
As far as himself concerned, Alexander was amused by his friends' infatuation, and consider himself quite beyond such weaknesses. True, his mother sent slave girls to his bed, and he enjoyed their company, but there was no spark, and he didn't even remember their names when the nights were over.
'Ah, these kind of things will never happen to me.' Thought Alexander.
The night fell and the banquet started. There were mountains of meat, foundations of wine, and hundreds of pretty boys and girls to amuse the guests. King Philip was in good spirit. He was having a great time with a beautiful page. Alexander drank another cup.
Then a servant approached Philip, and whispered something into his ears. Philip's only eye sparkled. And he yelled 'Let him in!'
At this command came in a middle-aged man in some shiny Persian robes. Alexander recognized him as Yemon, a merchant who traded expensive Persian spices and silks to Greek cities. He was a very rich man, and warmly welcomed by Macedonian aristocrats as they all wanted some fancy Persian luxuries to please their wives/mistresses/lovers.
The merchant walked into the banquet hall, and bowed deeply in front of Phillip.
'I haven't seen you around for a while, friend', exclaimed Phillip, 'What do you bring me this time? Spice? Silk? Pearl?'
Yemon smiled and shook his head.
'My lord, I bought you something far more magnificent'.
His words certainly took everyone's attention and all the people in the banquets hall stared at him.
'I am going to present you the wonder of Babylon!'
'Wonder of Babylon?' asked Alexander, 'you mean the Hanging Garden?'
'No my lord. The hanging Garden is the old wonder, and now Babylon has a new wonder!'
Yemon clasped his hands, and in came a servant, with a pole in his hand, and something covered with cloth hanging from the pole. It looks like a picture of something.
'Now my lords', proudly announced Yemon, 'allow me present to you… the Wonder of Babylon!' He removed the cloth and uncovered the picture.
Suddenly the noisy banquet hall became very quiet. You can hear a pin drop.
There was a most beautiful, angelic boy on the picture. His skin was as white as snow, lips as red as blood, and hair as black as ebony. He was dressed in the rich Persian silk. Words cannot describe his beauty. Everyone was staring at the picture, drooling at the same time, greed and lust were flowing around.
Antipater was the first one to recover from the shock. 'Who is this boy?'
'This boy is an angel from Heaven', proudly announced Yemon. Phillip gave him a dirty look.
"OK, actually he was purchased for the Great King from slave market', signed Yemon, 'he became a sensation in the harem, and the Great King took fancy of him immediately. A few months later the boy accomplished the Great king in a magnificent parade, and became the sensation of the city. And he is now called the New Wonder of the Babylon.'
'Well,' asked Phillip, 'how much did your king pay for him?'
'Care to guess?'
'100 talents? 500? 1000?'
'No', smiled the Yemon, 'Not even close. The Great king paid 10,000 talents for the boy, and named him Bagoas, which in our language, means angel from heaven.' (please see note 1)
'10,000? That's insane!'
'Not insane', answered the Merchant, 'it is a bargain. Trust me my lord, he is priceless'.
'What do you want me to do with that?' asked Phillip, 'do you have a similar boy to sell me?'
'No', said the Merchant, 'such beauty only happened once in a lifetime. But I would like to sell you this picture.'
'And how much would you ask for it?'
'100 talents. Only one percent of what the Great king paid for the boy'.
'100 talents for a picture? You are looking at the wrong person, man!'
The Merchant looked around. 'Anyone offering 100 talents for the picture?'
There was only silence. There were many eager and lusty faces, but nobody stood up.
The merchant signed, and rolled up the picture. 'Too bad nobody appreciate beauty here!'
'I will buy it!'
'Wow!' cried everyone, and you can hear their sharp intakes of air. Prince Alexander stepped forward.
'I have just founded my first colony, the Alexandropolis.' Said Alexander, 'it is a rich city, and people just found silver mine there. I am willing to trade the city for this picture'.
The merchant smiled and handed over the picture, this is better than he thought.
'Done'. The two men shook hands, while the astounded court looked on.
It is already deep night, all the lights in the palace were off, except the one in the Prince's chamber.
Alexander was alternating staring and kissing the picture, as he had done so for the last several hours.
'Oh my love, my dear, my dream, my life…I have finally found you!' he cried and laughed at the same time.
Morning finally found the prince on the bed, with Bagoas' picture safely under his pillow. He has a dream smile in his face, and the sweet name of Bagoas on his lips.
Alexander is a conquered man, and he was conquered by love. The conquered of his heart? The new Wonder of Babylon named Bagoas.
Note 1: 10,000 talents is roughly equivalent to 1.5 billion euros. Yes, 1.5 billion euros. Alexander spent that kind of money on Hephaistion's funeral.